Interlocking strap hooks with flexible elongated member attachment means

ABSTRACT

Interlocking hook assemblies for elastic and rigid straps and cords including a strap member and a pair of similar interlocking hook devices connected to each end of strap member which can be adjusted to desired length. Each interlocking hook device is provided with apertures which are fixedly attached to the distal end of the hook body opposite the hook. Each hook device can be connected, preferably in a locking manner, onto the other hook device creating a closed hook assembly thereby disabling the hooks to prevent entanglement of elastic or rigid straps when not in use or during storage and/or transportation. Multiple straps can be connected end-to-end forming an elongated elastic or rigid strap of desired length having closed central hooks with open hooks on each end. Interlocking hook assemblies for elastic or rigid straps and cords including two similar interlocking hook devices with a connector groove and a dual bar adjustable webbing slider for elastic or rigid straps and cord members. Each interlocking hook device is provided with a connector groove designed to allow each hook to engage the other within their respective grooves and to releasably lock them together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/943,749,filed 30 Jul. 2020 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,280,386 on 22 Mar. 2022),which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/880,392, filed 30 Jul. 2019, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference and priority of which is hereby claimed.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates primarily to interlocking hooks. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to interlocking hooks forelastic and rigid tie-down straps.

2. General Background of the Invention

Tie-down strap hooks are manufactured in a variety of different designsof which there are two basic designs, open hook and closed/gated hook(hooks with gates to form a closure). The open hook designs aredifficult to store and transport when not in use because the hooksnaturally engage upon other objects and become easily entangledespecially when several or more elastic or rigid straps are groupedtogether. The closed or gated hook style utilized in elastic or rigidstraps attempts to solve the entanglement problem by providing a hookwith a spring loaded gate that is closed when the hook is not in use.However, the spring loaded gate creates difficulty for the user whilehooking and unhooking the elastic or rigid strap hook due tointerference of the gate in the hook area. Additionally, the gate opensinward into the hook area limiting the available hook area that wouldotherwise be available if the gate were not present.

See U.S. Pat. Nos. D92,798; D325,546; D329,371; D330,669; D307,705;D345,297; D410,378; D546,169; D559,103; 2,447,422; 4,957,259; 5,003,672;5,224,247; 6,886,796; 7,228,600; 7,603,754; 9,249,825; 9,797,431;10,174,784; 10,738,820; Publication No. 2006/0237609; Publication No.2007/0067968; Publication No. 2007/0284326; and EP 1,717,482A2 and allreferences cited therein for a background of the invention. All of thesereferences are incorporated herein by reference.

Attempts to solve the problem with elastic or rigid tie-down strapstorage are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,003,672; D559,103; 6,886,796and Publication No. 2007/0284326 and outline methods in which theelastic or rigid strap hook can be covered by a slide-able cover or bymeans of hooking the elastic or rigid strap to a secondary housing,pallet or frame member to prevent entanglement of the elastic or rigidstrap hooks during storage and transportation. Other attempts to solvethe problem with elastic or rigid tie-down strap storage andtransportation are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. D307,705; D329,371;D330,669; D625,988 and 7,228,600 and outline methods in which elastic orrigid strap hooks are provided with closing gates which are used todisable the hooks when not in use.

An attempt to provide an elastic or rigid strap hook which can beconnected end-to-end is described in US Patent Application PublicationNo. 2007/0067968 wherein the hook is provided with “a receptacle formedin the hook portion for receiving a mating portion of another bungeecord fastener”.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a pair of similar hooks with each hookincorporating a connector groove within the hook body and one or moreapertures such as a dual bar adjustable webbing slider attached to thehook body opposite the hook. The connector groove allows for the lockingengagement of one hook to the other thereby providing a closed hookassembly which will not entangle upon itself or other objects. Theaperture on the hook body opposite the hook allows for the connection ofan elastic or rigid strap or cord to the aperture. The aperture orapertures can frictionally retain the straps or cords to the hook body.The cords or straps can also be fixedly attached to the aperture orapertures.

The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems confronted inthe art in a simple and straightforward manner. The present inventionincludes a pair of hooks, preferably metal reinforced overmolded plastichooks, which are preferably provided with a connector groove in the bodyof the hook having a catch feature which allows for one metal reinforcedplastic hook to engage and lock upon the other thereby providing aclosed hook assembly which will not engage upon other objects. Theinterlocking hooks are designed to engage and lock upon one another whennot in use to prevent entanglement of elastic or rigid tie-down strapsduring transportation and storage. Also, the interlocking hooks of thepresent invention provide a means for the hooks to engage upon oneanother forming a closed hook assembly when not in use while allowingthe entire hook area to remain open and unobstructed for ease of usewhen attaching to other objects. Additionally, the interlocking hooks ofthe present invention allow for multiple elastic or rigid tie-downstraps to be attached end-to-end offering the user the option to varythe length of the elastic or rigid straps while the central hooks remaininterlocked in a closed hook assembly thereby preventing the centralhooks from engaging other objects while the hooks on each end remainopen for use. The dual bar adjustable webbing slider allows the lengthof the straps to be independently adjustable to make cords and strapsadjustable to desired length.

The interlocking hooks with elastic and rigid cords and straps areadvantageous over other elastic and rigid cord and straps with hooks inthe following ways:

The present invention is advantageous over other cargo managementdevices in that it does not require a secondary device to secure anddisable the hooks when not in use. Additionally, the present inventionallows the hooks of each elastic or rigid tie-down strap to beinterlocked, secured and disabled thereby providing the user the optionto transport one or multiple tie-down straps to the location which itwill be used with their hooks in a secured and safe condition.

The present invention is advantageous over the bungee cord fastenerdescribed in US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0067968 becauseit does not have a receptacle located in the hook portion which caninterfere with the strength and the function of the hook therebylimiting its use. Additionally, the bungee cord fastener described in USPatent Application Publication No. 2007/0067968 does not provide a meansto disable the hooks to prevent engagement of the hooks when beingtransported or stored when in use or not in use as does the presentinvention.

Hooks with closing gates are disadvantageous compared to the presentinvention because the gates interfere with the function of the hooks andmake it cumbersome for the user to hook and unhook the elastic or rigidstrap due to the requirement to operate the gate while hooking andunhooking the device during operation. The hook engagement capability ofthe present invention allows for tangle-free transportation and storageof elastic or rigid straps and is advantageous over gated hook stylesbecause the hooks can be interlocked upon one another thereby preventingthe hooks from hooking undesirable objects without altering orinterfering with the function of the hook when put into use.

Also, the present invention is advantageous over other cargo managementdevices because the plane of the aperture lies perpendicular to theplane of the hook allowing the strap connected to the aperture to lieflat against the object being retained by the strap.

Incorporated herein by reference are my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,249,825;9,797,431; 10,174,784; and 10,738,820. This is not a continuation orcontinuation-in-part of these or any related patents. Please see thosepatents for more information about the structure of the hook member ofthe present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is an alternativeassembly of elastic member and interlocking hook assembly of the oneshown and described in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,249,825; 9,797,431;10,174,784; and 10,738,820

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages ofthe present invention, reference should be had to the following detaileddescription, read in conjunction with the following drawings, whereinlike reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of the bottom of a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present inventionshowing the plane of section A-A;

FIG. 4 is an isometric perspective partial cross section view of apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention with a strap inserted in the dual bar adjustablewebbing slider;

FIG. 6 is an isometric perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thedisengaged assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an isometric perspective view of a preferred embodiment of theengaged assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an isometric perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thecrossed engaged assembly of the present invention in use with a ratchetstrap in a cargo management application; and

FIG. 9 is a side view cross section of an alternative preferredembodiment of the assembly of the elastic member and interlocking hookassembly as mentioned in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,249,825; 9,797,431;10,174,784; and 10,738,820.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Interlocking hook device 100 of the present invention preferablyincludes hook 101 with hook body 102 preferably having a connectorgroove 103 and dual bar adjustable webbing slider 104. In variouspreferred embodiments of the present invention, two similar hook devices100 can assemble and lock onto one another thereby forming a closed hookassembly, which also disables the hooks 101 and provides for tangle-freetransportation and storage when not in use.

As seen in FIG. 1 , interlocking hook device 100 includes hook 101, thathas a centroid 110, and is connected to a hook body 102 which isconnected to an aperture or apertures of dual bar adjustable webbingslider 104.

Each hook 101 locks into the connector groove 103 of the other hookdevice 100, preferably frictionally (though they could, for example, bespring or magnetically locked). Each hook 101 preferably frictionallyengages the connector groove 103 of the other hook device 100,preferably with catch feature 109.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 , in various preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, interlocking hook device 100 includes hook 101 withhook body 102 which provide the ability for two similar hook devices 100to assemble and lock onto one another thereby forming a closed hookassembly as shown in FIG. 7 . Interlocking hook devices 100 can beconnected to an elastomeric or rigid elongated flexible member 209 (seeFIG. 5 ) which provides the ability for the hook devices 100 to assembleonto one another thereby forming a closed hook assembly 300 (see FIG. 7) thereby disabling the hooks 101 and providing for tangle freetransportation and storage when not in use.

The size of the preferred embodiments varies depending on theapplication by which it is used and the amount of stress the hook deviceis placed under. In various preferred embodiments, hook device 100 ispreferably about 1-6 inches in length, more preferably about 3-6 inchesin length, and most preferably about 5½ inches in length.

Flexible elongated member/webbing strap 209 can be made of Cotton,Nylon, Polyester & Polypropylene and preferably, in widths of ⅜″ to 4″.Flexible elongated member 209 can also be made of continuous natural(latex) or synthetic rubber elastic strands with an outer nylon sheath.Flexible elongated member 209 materials include for examplePolypropylene, heavy duty nylon, OCE fiber, and EPDM rubber strands.Flexible elongated member 209 can be made of multiple strands or ribbonsof natural or synthetic rubber and is prepared and extruded into longribbons of rubber. These ribbons are approximately 0.09 inch to 0.12inch (0.24-0.32 cm) thick, 0.25 inch (0.64 cm) wide and up to 100 feet(30 m) long. The number of ribbons, or strands, in a bungee corddetermines the diameter of the cord and the overall tensile strengthrating. Standard commercial bungee cord is available in diameters fromabout 0.25-inch to 0.62-inch (0.64-1.6 cm). Mil-spec cord is availablefrom 0.25-inch to 0.87-inch (0.64-2.2 cm) in diameter. Specificationsfor a 0.62-inch (1.6 cm) diameter mil-spec cord must weigh 14 pounds per100 feet (or 6 kg per 30 m), support 250-350 pounds (113-159 kg) at 100%elongation, have a minimum breaking strength of 500 pounds (227 kg), andbe able to endure a minimum of 50,000 flex cycles.

Interlocking hooks devices 100 and 200 with strap 209 can be assembledby the following preferred method:

Construction of Hook Device 100:

In various preferred embodiments of the present invention, hook device100 can preferably be constructed of a solid over-molded metal coreover-molded with Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene or Nylon.Hook device 100 has a metal core 108 preferably made from high carbonspring wire (preferably music wire ASTM A 228 or hard drawn ASTM A 227).Metal core 108 is formed in the shape of a hook on one end and extendsthrough the hook body 102 and the dual bar adjustable webbing slider104. An insert molding process is employed by inserting and centralizingthe metal core 108 into a first mold cavity in a first half of aninjection molding block. The second half of the injection molding blockwith a second mold cavity is clamped upon the first half of theinjection molding block forming one closed cavity in the shape of hookdevice 100 surrounding metal core 108 within. Polypropylene,polycarbonate, polyethylene or nylon or another thermoplastic polymer isthen injected into the two mold cavities thereby completing theinserting molding process and hook device 100.

FIG. 4 shows the A-A cross-section plane 107 of FIG. 3 and shows metalcore 108 within hook 101, hook body 102 and dual bar adjustable webbingslider 104 of hook device 100.

Assembly of hook device 100 onto webbing strap 209:

Webbing strap 209 is passed through the bottom of aperture 105 of dualbar adjustable webbing slider 104 and then through the top of aperture106 of the dual bar adjustable webbing slider 104 to form the webbingstrap 209 and hook device assembly 200. The end of the webbing strap 209can also be passed through the bottom of aperture 105 and then bonded orsewn onto the webbing strap 209 forming a permanent non-adjustable loopattaching the hook 200 to the webbing strap.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show one hook device 100 engaged and locked with anotherhook device 100 thereby forming closed hook assembly 300. Assembly 300will not entangle upon itself or other objects.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative preferred embodiment of the assembly of theelastic member and interlocking hook assembly as shown in FIGS. 22-32 ,for example, in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,249,825; 9,797,431; 10,174,784; and10,738,820 with elastic member 811 fixedly attached to wire core 803with hook spike 817. In this alternative preferred embodiment, theJ-shaped hook of the hook body has a semicircular portion and a straightportion with a hook spike 817 at the end of the straight portion. Wirecore 803 is within a molded thermoplastic hook body.

PARTS LIST

The following is a list of exemplary parts and materials suitable foruse in the present invention:

-   -   100 Hook device (preferably metal reinforced plastic hook device        preferably made of solid over-molded metal core hooks        over-molded with Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene or        Nylon or another thermoplastic polymer with inner hardened metal        core hook preferably made from metal wire or metal formed in the        shape of a hook).    -   101 Hook    -   102 Hook Body    -   103 Connector groove    -   104 Dual bar adjustable webbing slider    -   105 First aperture of dual bar adjustable webbing slider 104    -   106 Second aperture of dual bar adjustable webbing slider 104    -   107 A-A cross section plane    -   108 Wire core (preferably made of high carbon spring wire (music        wire ASTM A 228 or hard drawn ASTM A 227)    -   109 Catch feature    -   110 Centroid    -   200 Hook device (preferably, metal reinforced plastic hook        device preferably made of solid over-molded metal core hooks        over-molded with Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene or        Nylon or another thermoplastic polymer with inner hardened metal        core hook made from metal wire or metal formed in the shape of a        hook) attached to webbing strap 209    -   209 Flexible elongated member/webbing strap can be made of        Cotton, Nylon, Polyester & Polypropylene and preferably, in        widths of ⅜″ to 4″. Can also be made of Premium latex rubber        core, OCE fiber, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber        strands surrounded by woven polyester, nylon or cotton yarn        sheath).    -   300 Closed hook assembly of hooks 100 and straps 209    -   802 Catch feature    -   803 Wire core (preferably made of high carbon spring wire (music        wire ASTM A 228 or hard drawn ASTM A 227)    -   810 Hook body    -   811 Elastic member    -   816 Shank of hook    -   817 Hook spike

All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature andpressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. Allmaterials used or intended to be used in a human being arebiocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; thescope of the present invention is to be limited only by the followingclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An interlocking hook device comprising: ahook body connected to a hook on one end and connected to an aperturesection, having an axis, on the distal end of the hook body opposite thehook, said hook having a centroid; wherein the hook body contains aconnector groove which receives a hook of a similar hook device; andwherein the aperture section receives an end of a flexible elongatedmember; and wherein the connector groove has a plane and the plane ofthe connector groove substantially intersects the centroid of the hook;wherein the aperture section has a plane and the plane of the aperturesection lies substantially perpendicular to the plane of the hook;wherein the plane of the connector groove lies at an acute angle to theplane of the aperture section; wherein the aperture section lies outsideof the connector groove and wherein the axis of the aperture does notpass through the hook body, and wherein the axis of the aperture doesnot pass through the hook.
 2. The interlocking hook device of claim 1,wherein the hook body, the hook, and the aperture section are made ofsolid over-molded metal core over-molded with polypropylene,polycarbonate, polyethylene, or nylon with an inner hardened metal corehook made from metal wire or metal formed in the shape of a hook.
 3. Theinterlocking hook device of claim 2, wherein the aperture section isfixedly attached to the hook body by the metal core within the moldedhook body that also forms the internal structure of the aperturesection.
 4. The interlocking hook device of claim 1, wherein whencoupled together, the plane of the aperture section of the first hookdevice lies at a 90 degree angle to the plane of the aperture section ofthe second hook device.
 5. The interlocking hook device of claim 1,wherein the hook has a plane, and the hook body is in the shape of atear drop truncated in a symmetrical plane perpendicular to thesymmetrical plane of the hook.
 6. The interlocking hook device of claim1 wherein the connector groove has a cross-sectional area and a catchfeature, and wherein said catch feature has a cross-sectional area, andthe hook has a cross-sectional area, and the catch feature of theconnector groove has a protrusion which partially encloses thecircumference of the cross-sectional area of the connector groovewherein the cross-sectional area of the connector groove catch featureis smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hook.
 7. A flexibleelongated member with interlocking hook devices comprising: a flexibleelongated member having first and second ends, with the first endconnected to a first hook device and the second end connected to asecond hook device, wherein said first hook device has an outer surfaceand comprises a first hook body having two ends, said first hook bodyhaving a hook having a plane and located on one end, an aperture sectionhaving a plane and an axis and is connected to the distal end of saidfirst hook body opposite the hook, wherein said aperture section canreceive said first elongated member end, the plane of said aperturesection lies substantially perpendicular to the plane of the hook andthe aperture section lies outside of the hook body, and wherein the axisof the aperture section does not pass through the hook, and an externalconnector groove, having a plane and a contour, said groove located inbetween said hook and said aperture section on the outer surface of thefirst hook device, and wherein the plane of said connector groove liesat an acute angle to the plane of the aperture section; wherein saidsecond hook device has an outer surface and comprises a second hookbody, said second hook body having two ends, a hook having a planelocated on one end of said second hook body, an aperture section havinga plane and an axis and is connected to the distal end of said secondhook body opposite the hook, wherein said aperture section can receivesaid second elongated member end, the plane of said aperture sectionlies substantially perpendicular to the plane of the hook of said secondhook body and the aperture section lies outside of the hook body, andwherein the axis of the aperture does not pass through the hook, and anexternal connector groove, having a plane and a contour, said groovelocated in between said hook and said aperture section on the outersurface of the second hook device, and wherein the plane of saidconnector groove lies at an angle acute to the plane of the aperturesection of said second hook body; and wherein said first hook device andsaid second hook device can engage by inserting the hook of said firsthook device into the contour of the connector groove of said second hookdevice and by inserting the hook of said second hook device into thecontour of the connector groove of said first hook device, therebyforming a closed hook assembly and a closed loop of the flexibleelongated member, and wherein the plane of the aperture section of thefirst hook body lies perpendicular to the plane of the aperture sectionof the second hook body.
 8. The flexible elongated member withinterlocking hook devices of claim 7, wherein the hook of said firsthook body has a centroid and the plane of the connector groove of saidfirst hook body substantially intersects the centroid of the hook ofsaid first hook body.
 9. The flexible elongated member with interlockinghook devices of claim 8, wherein the hook of said second hook body has acentroid and the plane of the connector groove of said second hook bodysubstantially intersects the centroid of the hook of said second hookbody.
 10. The flexible elongated member with interlocking hook devicesof claim 7, wherein each said hook body is molded thermoplastic with aninternal wire core.
 11. The flexible elongated member with interlockinghook devices of claim 10, wherein the aperture of said first hook bodyis fixedly attached to said first hook body by said internal wire core.12. The flexible elongated member with interlocking hook devices ofclaim 11, wherein the aperture of said second hook body is fixedlyattached to said second hook body by said internal wire core.
 13. Theflexible elongated member with interlocking hook devices of claim 7,wherein the flexible elongated member is a bungee strap or rigid strapwebbing.
 14. The flexible elongated member with interlocking hookdevices of claim 7, wherein numerous flexible elongated members can beconnected end-to-end by engaging the interlocking hook devices in seriesthereby providing a user with an extendable flexible elongated memberhaving a closed hook assembly in the center of the extended flexibleelongated member with an open hook on each end.
 15. The flexibleelongated member with interlocking hook devices of claim 7, wherein theflexible elongated member has an axis and the plane of each saidconnector groove lies at an acute angle to the axis of the flexibleelongated member.
 16. The flexible elongated member with interlockinghook devices of claim 7, wherein said elongated member has a plane andsaid plane is perpendicular to the plane of each said hook.
 17. Aninterlocking device comprising: a flexible elongated member having firstand second ends, with the first end connected to a first hook device andthe second end connected to a second hook device, wherein said firsthook device comprises: a body having two ends, a hook having a plane andconnected to one end of said body, an aperture section having a planeand an axis and connected to the second end of said body opposite saidhook, wherein said aperture section receives said first elongated memberend, the plane of said aperture section lies substantially perpendicularto the plane of said hook, and said aperture section is not part of saidbody and said axis of the aperture section does not pass through thehook, and an external connector groove located in between said hook andsaid aperture section of the first hook device; wherein said second hookdevice comprises: a body having two ends, a hook having a plane andconnected to one end of said second hook device body, an aperturesection having a plane and an axis and connected to the second end ofsaid second hook device body opposite of the hook of said second hookdevice, wherein said aperture section can receive said second elongatedmember end, the plane of said aperture section lies substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the hook of said second hook device andsaid aperture section of said second hook device is not part of saidsecond hook device body and said axis of the aperture section does notpass through the hook, and an external connector groove located inbetween said hook and said aperture section of said second hook device;wherein said first hook device and said second hook device can interlockby inserting the hook of said first hook device into the connectorgroove of said second hook device and by inserting the hook of saidsecond hook device into the connector groove of said first hook device,thereby forming a closed assembly, and wherein the plane of the aperturesection of the first hook device lies perpendicular to the plane of theaperture section of the second hook device.
 18. The interlocking deviceof claim 17, wherein said external connector groove of said first hookdevice has a plane and wherein the external connector groove of saidsecond hook device has a plane that lies substantially perpendicular tothe plane of the first hook device.
 19. The interlocking device of claim17, wherein the connector groove of said first hook device has a catchfeature and the connector groove of said second hook device has a catchfeature, wherein each said catch feature includes a protrusion andflexes that allow the hook of said first hook device to pass through thecatch feature of the connector groove of said second hook device and thehook of said second hook device to pass through the catch feature of theconnector groove of said first hook device, thereby creating asnap-locking engagement.
 20. The interlocking device of claim 19,wherein each said hook has a centroid, and wherein the plane of eachsaid hook is symmetrical and the plane of each said connector groove issymmetrical, and wherein the plane of the connector groove of said firsthook device lies at an angle of about 90 degrees to the plane of thehook of said first hook device, and the plane of the connector groove ofsaid second hook device lies at an angle of about 90 degrees to theplane of the hook of said second hook device.